In situ observations of stratospheric HCl using three-mirror integrated cavity output spectroscopy

J. Wilkerson; D. S. Sayres; J. B. Smith; N. Allen; M. Rivero; M. Greenberg; T. Martin; J. G. Anderson; J. G. Anderson; J. G. Anderson

doi:10.5194/amt-14-3597-2021

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (May 2021)

In situ observations of stratospheric HCl using three-mirror integrated cavity output spectroscopy

J. Wilkerson,
D. S. Sayres,
J. B. Smith,
N. Allen,
M. Rivero,
M. Greenberg,
T. Martin,
J. G. Anderson,
J. G. Anderson,
J. G. Anderson

Affiliations

J. Wilkerson: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
D. S. Sayres: Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
J. B. Smith: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
N. Allen: Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
M. Rivero: Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
M. Greenberg: Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
T. Martin: Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
J. G. Anderson: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
J. G. Anderson: Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
J. G. Anderson: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-3597-2021
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14
pp. 3597 – 3613

Abstract

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Stratospheric HCl observations are an important diagnostic for the evaluation of catalytic processes that impact the ozone layer. We report here in situ balloon-borne observations of HCl employing an off-axis integrated cavity output spectrometer (OA-ICOS) fitted with a reinjection mirror. Laboratory assessments demonstrated that the spectrometer has a 90 % response time of 10 s to changes in HCl and a 30 s precision of 26 pptv. The instrument was deployed alongside an ozone instrument in August 2018 on a balloon-borne descent between 20–80 hPa (29–18 km altitude). The observations agreed with nearby satellite measurements made by the Earth Observing System Microwave Limb Sounder within 10 % on average. This is the first time that stratospheric measurements of HCl have been made with ICOS and the first time any cavity-enhanced HCl instrument has been tested in flight.

Published in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques

ISSN: 1867-1381 (Print); 1867-8548 (Online)
Publisher: Copernicus Publications
Country of publisher: Germany
LCC subjects: Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General): Environmental engineering; Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General): Earthwork. Foundations
Website: http://www.atmospheric-measurement-techniques.net/home.html

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